"Ay, ay," muttered Turk, who for some time had been dancing up and down with pain, "I feel as if the gravy was already a-oozing out of my body."
As he spoke, he chanced to glance upward, when he was startled by the apparition of a face, half concealed by a great green leaf, (protruding downward from under an old cap) thrust through the opening in the top of the trunk, while the rest of the body was screened by the thick branches around it.
"Hist! Stand by! I'll save you both if I can!" said the stranger in a shrill, penetrating whisper, "on one condition!"
For several moments the two men were so surprised that they could only stand motionless, looking up at the intruding face, without uttering a word.
Harry was the first to speak.
"Who are you! How came you there?"
"It don't matter. I am only half human, at any rate. On one condition I said I'd save you."
"Name it, name it, my man!" cried Turk, "and you'll see how quick we'll comply. But I'd think the savages would see you up there?"
"No; the branches and leaves are too thick. The leaf over my face hides it from them while my body is in shadow."
"Name that ere condition of yours then, quick!" exclaimed Turk.